Job Posting

Community Outreach Assistant

Description: The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is seeking to diversify its approach to community outreach by extending the scope of its free and affordable cultural programs to underserved and marginalized communities in Ottawa/Gatineau. To this end, the OAG is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaboratively-minded individual with community affiliations in the region, to fill the role of Community Outreach Assistant (COA). Working in direct collaboration with the Curator of Public, Educational, and Community Programs, the COA will be responsible for identifying and making new connections with local and regional organizations and agencies, and instigating opportunities for creative learning, community leadership, and civic engagement through the arts. The COA will also help facilitate existing OAG programs, such as Art Tent and Creative Sundays. Working in a supportive mentorship environment, the COA will have the opportunity to develop professional skills in a not-for-profit arts environment, while strengthening the Gallery&rsquo;s commitment to outreach.

This position is made possible through Canada Summer Jobs. Please see requirements below.

Responsibilities:

Research and communicate with groups and agencies from cultural, social and economic sectors of the city that would benefit from knowing about the free children, youth and family programs at the OAG;

Identifying segments of the population who do not frequent art galleries or cultural institutions and supplying them with the appropriate access to OAG programs that fit their needs;

Initiate and customize experiences in the context of OAG exhibitions or at partner institutions for specific groups, with the objective of creating long term/sustained/meaningful partnerships;

Plan and implement customized tours, workshops, and outreach opportunities to engage various audiences, including Indigenous and other communities in the exhibition In the Flesh (in the context of Sakahàn, the international Indigenous art exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Canada), taking place either at the OAG or at community sites.

Facilitating existing OAG programs, including the OAG Art Tent (a tent that travels to events, festivals and community celebrations such as Festival Franco-Ontarien, National Aboriginal Day celebrations, Haïti en Fête, etc) to offer free art-making activities; OAG Summer Camps (bilingual, French and English)) and youth/family workshops offered free of charge; OAG-led free bilingual workshops held in partner institutions, like Ottawa Public Library branches;

Delivering programs; evaluating the experience and outcome of partnerships by analyzing successes, and identifying shortcomings and suggesting solutions;

Other duties as they arise: Assisting in booking, planning, delivery and evaluation of projects such as summer camps, tours, talks, workshops and lectures;

Contribute to overall staff effort towards the varied events and functions of the Gallery

Knowledge & Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

A deep understanding of or affiliation to one, or more of the communities in OAG&#39;s constituency that the gallery is striving to make long-lasting connections with;

Experience (volunteer or work) in a public art gallery/museum or related cultural institution;

Interest in visual art;

Ability to work well with children, and community members of all ages and backgrounds;

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in both French and English (ideally);

Organizational skills;

Positive attitude and collaborative spirit;

Ability to think creatively

Requirements:
(a) is between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;
(b) was registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year;
(c) intends to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;
(d) is a student in a secondary, post-secondary, CEGEP (Quebec only), vocational or technical program;
(e) is a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* and;
(f) is legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations.

Employer Details

Ottawa Art Gallery

OAG is an independent non-profit public art gallery committed to the acquisition, presentation, interpretation and dissemination of contemporary art for the benefit of the local arts community. Its programs explore a variety of issues and include exhibitions, talks, lectures, tours and publications.